Features
Characteristic Hagi ware quality: the feldspar glaze flows naturally and the clay body is soft and warm, giving the natural feel of hand-thrown, kiln-fired work.
A playful subject in overglaze enamel: kite-flying suggests fair winds and safety and the fulfilment of wishes — a happy meaning.
Practical for daily use: a 13 cm wide mouth and 7.5 cm height give a stable grip, suitable for tea or for sweets.
Wabi-sabi beauty: the naturally running glaze and fine iron spots give the piece the warmth of age and a character of its own.
A neatly finished foot ring: the foot is trimmed smoothly and sits level on the table, with well-judged proportions.
Soft colour and line: the figures' clothing is chiefly pale blue and ochre red, showing a traditional Japanese sense of beauty.
Good at a tea setting: it serves equally well as a bowl for sencha, hōjicha or genmaicha, plain and calm in style.
For sweets and small dishes too: suitable for wagashi, tofu pudding, jelly or soup.
Recommended for beginning collectors: a representative style at an approachable price, an excellent starting point for Hagi ware.
Shōwa mingei character: practical and artistic at once, at home on a tea setting, in a study or on a display shelf.
◆ Suggested settings
For a tea setting: paired with a bamboo tray and linen cloth, it adds to the natural atmosphere of the tea ceremony.
As household tableware: suitable as a breakfast bowl, a dessert bowl or a bowl for ochazuke.
As a gift or for collecting: for a friend who loves Japanese wares, or as a first piece in a collection.
As a photographic prop: the soft glaze colour and playful composition suit photography and styled shots.